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This article is a somewhat adapted presentation with the same title from the conference "Psychotherapy and New Technologies" held at the Clinical Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče in Zagreb on June 1, 2018. Rapid development and extensive use of technological gadgets in new forms of communication present a challenge in redefining and changing the fundamental psychotherapy settings. The author presents his own deliberations and questions based on more than 10 years of experience in clinical practice at experimenting with new forms of online communication. The conclusion is that remote supervisions proceed without difficulties, while online psychoanalytic psychotherapy face-to-face can be maintained more easily in this new form of communication than the classic 'couch' psychoanalysis that is nevertheless possible in certain conditions. We should not fall into the trap of comparing the quality of psychoanalytic therapy in the physical presence of an analyst and analysand with that of remote therapy; they are simply different forms of therapy, whereby our experience in the latter is only limited. The technology of the 21st century is irreversibly changing our lives and modes of communication, which is a fact that psychoanalysis cannot ignore should it seek to survive in the "New World." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Technological advances in various health professions have led researchers and clinicians to develop a new method of therapy referred to as cybertherapy. Cybertherapy is a technology-based form of psychological treatment that makes use of computerbased programs ranging from virtual reality simulations to remote internet-based delivery techniques. Studies have suggested the usefulness of these technological applications for a variety of mental illnesses, including forms of anxiety and eating disorders. Although this development and integration of technology seems promising, cybertherapy is still a developing form of psychotherapy that warrants further research. Current shortcomings include potential aftereffects from using technology, and a lack of protocol regarding novel applications. In this paper, both advantages and limitations to cybertherapy will be discussed. It is proposed that this may be an efficacious means of psychotherapy once further developed. Additional research and development of protocol is necessary before implementing cybertherapy on a large scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a somewhat adapted presentation with the same title from the conference "Psychotherapy and New Technologies" held at the Clinical Psychiatric Hospital Vrapèe in Zagreb on June 1, 2018. Rapid development and extensive use of technological gadgets in new forms of communication present a challenge in redefining and changing the fundamental psychotherapy settings. The author presents his own deliberations and questions based on more than 10 years of experience in clinical practice at experimenting with new forms of online communication. The conclusion is that remote supervisions proceed without difficulties, while online psychoanalytic psychotherapy face-to-face can be maintained more easily in this new form of communication than the classic 'couch' psychoanalysis that is nevertheless possible in certain conditions. We should not fall into the trap of comparing the quality of psychoanalytic therapy in the physical presence of an analyst and analysand with that of remote therapy; they are simply different forms of therapy, whereby our experience in the latter is only limited. The technology of the 21st century is irreversibly changing our lives and modes of communication, which is a fact that psychoanalysis cannot ignore should it seek to survive in the "New World." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online searching for explanations of failures and crises experienced in daily life leads one to websites offering cybertherapy. The therapy is aimed at people who, for different reasons (e.g. lack of time, shyness), do not wish to have a face-to-face session with the psychotherapist. The main goal of the analysis was the problem of providing the aforementioned psychotherapy. By means of PubMed/MEDLINE, Wiley Online Library, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar science databases, we have searched through Polish and abroad references from 2010-2017 for articles discussing the problem of online psychotherapy. Online psychotherapy possesses many different forms. It can be provided via e-mail, live video session (Skype), chatting or text messages (SMS). The main benefit of e-therapy is its swiftness concentrated on short-term contact. Furthermore, the price is also attractive in comparison to the therapy delivered by traditional means. On the other hand, it has its drawbacks, e.g. lack of emotional contact between the patient and psychotherapist, impersonal relationship and the chance of misunderstandings.

How do we lastingly change our lives for the better? There is not an easy answer to this question. However, due to the advances in psychology and neuroscience, now we have a better view of personal change, that is not limited to a specific viewpoint. In particular, the emergence of integrative and transdiagnostic accounts suggests that change is contextual, depending on the person, the issues, and the situation. More, personal change is a process, happening in discontinuous and nonlinear ways, following life transitions and traumatic events. In this process a key role can be played by technology: using the “Positive Technology” approach it is possible to use technology to manipulate the quality of experience, with the goal of increasing wellness, and generating strengths and resilience in individuals, organizations and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper considers the existing research in cybertherapy, which is a psychological therapy carried out with the use of a mediated environment, and examines the way in which the users' sense of presence in the mediated environment can be of relevance for the validation of the intervention. With this purpose, a collection of 41 papers reporting the measurement of presence in the context of a cybertherapy treatment has been identified and examined. The general relevance of presence in cybertherapy and the measurement techniques adopted in the studies collected here are described and discussed. The way in which presence corresponds to establishing internal validity, convergent or predictive validity and external validity of a treatment is examined. In conclusion, a checklist to apply when planning a validation study is proposed, to improve the way in which presence is used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of biosensors in human experimental research has become one of the most reliable methods to objectively quantify participants' behavioral, psychological and physiological measures. Modern bio-behavioral technologies can be integrated in Virtual Reality platforms, for a contactless assessment of affective states. This manuscript proposes a paradigm to deeper reach accuracy in assessment and diagnostics of rehabilitation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research indicates that photorealistic virtual representations (i.e., agents and avatars) of the self can influence attitude and behavior change. This study was designed to test participants' physiological reactions to exercising or still agents that resembled the self or a stranger. a within-subjects experiment tested participants' (N = 10) skin conductance in response to running and loitering virtual selves (created from participants' photographs) and virtual others. participants entered a fully immersive virtual environment and observed the agents as their physiological response was measured. arousal was greatest when exposed to a running virtual self or a loitering virtual other. The finding that the virtual self causes physiological arousal may explain why a running virtual self has been shown in previous research to increase exercise behavior after exposure. implications for the development of Virtual reality exercise treatments and other virtual therapies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As cybertherapy diversifies into a wide variety of modalities, it is incumbent upon researchers and clinicians to determine the most suitable cybertherapy approach for clients. Suitability encompasses ethical considerations, client satisfaction, and treatment outcomes. The authors, working with an Employee and Family Assistance Program provider based in Canada, provided text-based e-mail counseling (cybercounseling) to clients across the country. Cybercounseling was accessible to clients through the same avenues as in-person counseling. Clients self-selected either cybercounseling or in-person counseling at intake. For the purposes of this study, data from 211 clients have been collected, including 105 online and 106 in-person clients. Client demographic data including age, gender, presenting problem, referral source and marital status were collected for each client. Comparing the cyber and in-person client data provides insights into the similarities and differences between cyber and in-person client groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within perceptual psychology, visual masking describes a process whereby the presentation of one image, the mask, affects the conscious perception of another, the target. Given the right conditions the target can effectively be rendered invisible. There is a dearth of research into the effects of visually masked stimuli within virtual environments, particularly with regard to affect psychology. Of the two studies presented here, the first study was used to establish the efficacy of visual masking using three dimensional, masked objects. Usually, mask and target stimuli are co-planar, with no internal depth disparity. This study found that visual masking is possible within a virtual space using target objects with internal depth disparity. The second study investigated affect driven, choice reactions to three dimensional, masked facial expressions. This study also found an effect, specifically an unconscious bias to navigate away from angry, masked faces and towards smiling, masked expressions. These two studies form a foundation for a wider project: using visual masking within a virtual environment for mood induction, primarily as a cybertherapeutic aid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a tendency to think that face-to-face communication, particularly with respect to emotionally-sensitive issues, is a superior means of offering support compared to computer-mediated communication (CMC). However, there may be situations in which the reduced intimacy of CMC is beneficial to providing support. The current study investigated whether conditions necessary for effective supportive communication as outlined by Burleson and Goldsmith (1998), including anonymity, self-disclosure, discussion of thoughts and feelings and suggestion of change, were present in an online support forum produced by The National Society of Epilepsy. A content analysis was completed on 120 posts and results suggest that all conditions necessary for effective supportive communication were met within the forum. Furthermore, anonymity seems to be a key factor in allowing posters to discuss their thoughts and feelings. It may be the case that the stigma often associated with Epilepsy has a smaller impact with CMC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) are becoming more and more common in Clinical Psychology. Two of the technologies that are more consolidated in this field are virtual reality (VR) and telepsychology. There are other technological innovations that are beginning to be used in clinical and health psychology such as ambient intelligence, ubiquitous computing or persuasive computing. In the last fifteen years there has been a proliferation of studies testing the efficacy of immersive virtual reality in the delivery of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for several mental disorders and health conditions. The essence of VR is that it can simulate reality and add a new possibility: the user has the illusion of "being" in the computer-generated environment while interacting with the VR objects. This unique feature of VR is very relevant for its use in Clinical Psychology. At the same time, it can raise several ethical issues. It is important to investigate the possible effects of blurring the distinction between real and virtual worlds in vulnerable populations. Some other concerns regarding the use of VR in therapy have already been investigated, such as cybersickness. After ten years of experience treating patients with VR, this has not been a problem in the published efficacy studies. Telepsychology has also been used to improve the delivery of CBT. A number of Internetdelivered programs have already become important tools in the health system. The main advantage is that online therapy can reach people who might not otherwise seek therapy, such as disabled people or those who live in remote areas. However, several concerns have been raised about self-help procedures, like the issue of self-diagnosis. and the fact that patients usually have all of the necessary self-help information at their disposal. It is important to establish criteria to protect people from the possible negative effects of this. Other innovations such as ambient intelligence and pervasive computing bring up other ethical issues. For example, is privacy being compromised too much when people are located using GPS or physiologically monitored 24 hours a day? Criteria for considering these issues must be established. Our research group has been working with new technologies and therapies for the last fifteen years. This paper addresses the ethical issues we have encountered in our research and clinical practice; it also explores ethical issues that will become increasingly important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversation analysis can take the form of a qualitative methodology for the exploration of discursive productions, whose main goal is the formulation of hypotheses for reading psychosocial interaction through descriptive models of interlocution. Therefore, in this study, conversations in a shared Virtual Environment have been analyzed in order to understand the specific structure, dynamics, and phenomenology of Virtual Reality effects on the “interactive micro-chains” that constitute the communicative thread of daily experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding is critical to productive interactions, good communication and therapeutic change. Clients may understand the meanings of words a professional uses but not what the professional intends. If both the client and the professional simply assume that the other will understand their intention because the words are understood, the meanings of the words may come into dispute. This, in turn, leads to failed communication and negative therapeutic outcomes. To counter this, we have developed and used the Presence Techniques in text-based cybercounselling for more than a decade. This paper describes these online counselling techniques and explores their use and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When undergo ambulatory surgical operations, the majority of patients experience high level of anxiety. Different experimental studies have shown that distraction techniques are effective in reducing pain and related anxiety. Since Virtual reality (VR) has been demonstrated a good distraction technique, it has been repeatedly used in hospital contexts for reducing pain in burned patients, but it has never been used during surgical operations. With the present randomized controlled study we intended to verify the effectiveness of VR in reducing anxiety in patients undergoing ambulatory operations under local or regional anaesthesia. In particular, we measured the degree to which anxiety associated with surgical intervention was reduced by distracting patients with immersive VR provided through a cell phone connected to an HMD compared to a no-distraction control condition. A significant reduction of anxiety was obtained after 45 minutes of operation in the VR group, but not in the control group and, after 90 minutes, the reduction was larger in the experimental group than in other one. In conclusion, this study presents an innovative promising technique to reduce anxiety during surgical interventions, even if more studies are necessary to investigate its effectiveness in other kinds of operations and in larger numbers of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Questions have been raised about the internet's effect on mental health, although no principled review has yet tackled the issue. Aims: To examine the effect of the internet on mental health. Method: Literature review. Results: The internet is typically discussed as if it were a set of activities when it is actually a medium upon which various activities can occur. It is, therefore, neither "good" nor "bad" for mental health, although specific activities may have an influence. The standard of mental health information on the internet is probably equivalent to the mainstream media, although overall it still remains poor. The concept of "internet addiction" looks increasingly invalid, although it is likely that depressed or isolated individuals are more likely to focus on certain activities to excess. A number of "extreme communities" have formed online, such as pro-anorexia, pro-suicide, pro-amputation and likely-psychotic groups. These serve to provide support, outside a medical and social mainstream that finds their beliefs and behaviours unacceptable. A review of preliminary randomized controlled trials shows online therapy to be effective for many disorders. Conclusions: Mental health professionals are advised to lead the creation of online treatments and information. Clinical recommendations for the use of the internet are offered. Declaration of interest: None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of auditory feedback in a VR system planned for clinical use and to address the different factors that should be taken into account in building a bimodal virtual environment (VE). We conducted an experiment in which we assessed spatial performances in agoraphobic patients and normal subjects comparing two kinds of VEs, visual alone (Vis) and auditory–visual (AVis), during separate sessions. Subjects were equipped with a head-mounted display coupled with an electromagnetic sensor system and immersed in a virtual town. Their task was to locate different landmarks and become familiar with the town. In the AVis condition subjects were equipped with the head-mounted display and headphones, which delivered a soundscape updated in real-time according to their movement in the virtual town. While general performances remained comparable across the conditions, the reported feeling of immersion was more compelling in the AVis environment. However, patients exhibited more cybersickness symptoms in this condition. The result of this study points to the multisensory integration deficit of agoraphobic patients and underline the need for further research on multimodal VR systems for clinical use. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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We demonstrate the feasibility of virtual reality scenarios to reduce discomfort in patients during ambulatory and obstetric surgeries and patients hospitalized in postoperative care units from Cardiac, nephrology, and neonatology unirs. 27 patients have been participated in this preliminary reports from 3 public hospitals from Mexico city in 2006. The VR scenarios were developed in the Virtual Reality Medical Center of San Diego CA, USA, and the HMD is from the Southern University of los Angeles, CA, USA. The majority of patients demonstrated comfort with virtual scenarios during surgical procedures or hospitalization. In ambulatory surgeries the reduction of medication dosage was real. We present the first applications in surgery, obstetrics and care units. The preliminary results must be supported in the future with more number of cases and statistical results; however we can predict the usefulness because we have found reduction of medication in ambulatory surgeries. Explore new applications in different areas in medicine is a challenge of Virtual Reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]